topic Re: I can't believe the phone call I got in Community Chat

I can't believe the phone call I got

Ditzydori — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 05:05:11 GMT

My husbands business failed about 6 years ago. We are still working with a lawyer to help settle business affairs

Well yesterday I got a call from "private caller" addressed to me and one to my son, looking for my husband. My other son got a call on his cell phone also asking for my husband. And, get this, my daughter's boyfriend got a call on his cell phone asking to speak to my daughter about my husband.

The person sounded very authoritive and said things like federal court appearance, pending litigation. They were from Asset Verification Services.

I called and asked the person how they got my daughter's boyfriend's telephone number or my other son's cell phone number. He said, and I quote, "we hire people to find out for us and they do a good job".

Good grief. I find this very creepy. I guess that is no such thing as privacy anymore.

Needless to say, I called my lawyer.

I just wanted to share this with you ladies, as I got very freaked out by this.

Re: I can't believe the phone call I got

Deb1010again — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 05:11:19 GMT

It sounds like they've been calling your husband and he's not talking to them. Have you asked your husband what it's all about? Someone doesn't go thru all that trouble without cause. Maybe there's an outstanding debt that somehow got overlooked? I wish you the best of luck and understand how it freaked you out.

Re: I can't believe the phone call I got

stilltamn8r — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 05:34:08 GMT

Believe me, if you owe money to someone, or they think you do, they will go to the ends of the earth to track you down, even calling your neighbors and boss....

Their investigators will stop at nothing....Well, maybe your lawyer can help...if anyone can it would be a lawyer... But usually their antics stop just before the point of illegality so technically they are "clean"....

Re: I can't believe the phone call I got

KathyPet — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 07:12:17 GMT

This is a scan. These scan artists pretend to be from the govt to collect money owed that is not owed. Do not fall for this. They will steal your money. There are stories all over the internet about this scam. Educate yourself about his and do not fall for it.

Re: I can't believe the phone call I got

Deb1010again — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 07:23:44 GMT

Dori, KathyPet is right. It's a scam. I did a search on Google and found the following Q&A with an attorney about the practice...

*****************************************************************

Q. A company called Asset Verification Services contacted my father in-law and told him his name was used as a reference by his daughter in-law (me) and they are trying to contact me. They called me and left a voice message, claiming civil suit action. The credit card is from a debt that has recently dropped off my credit report. It is at least 7 years old and I am really angry that they called my father in-law about it, isn't that illegal? Also, I never use family members as references to anything especially not a credit card debt that I had long before I married into the family so he obviously lied. How did he even get his number and are they calling other family members? What are my rights?

Attorney answers:

The practice of calling persons other than a debtor to threaten civil action is likely a statutory violation of fair debt collection practices, which you can sue for nominal damages of $1,000 and attorneys fees in federal court, although that is apparently an adequate deterrent.
The federal courts are not enthusiastic about such claims, and in my jurisdiction it can be difficult to maintain such an action.
The debt collectors who violate the laws continue to do so.

Re: I can't believe the phone call I got

Ditzydori — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 15:29:01 GMT

Thanks Kathypet and deb101. My lawyer sent me the same QAnd A. It still very unnerving. The lawyer said that there aren't any recent judgements. So it must be a scam. How very creepy. Who do they hire to do the invasion of privacy? I'm shocked this can happen. Thanks for your replies.

Re: I can't believe the phone call I got

Snowpuppy — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 15:37:12 GMT

On 3/22/2014 ditzy dori said:
Thanks Kathypet and deb101. My lawyer sent me the same QAnd A. It still very unnerving. The lawyer said that there aren't any recent judgements. So it must be a scam. How very creepy. Who do they hire to do the invasion of privacy? I'm shocked this can happen. Thanks for your replies.

The #1 rule of dealing with any debt collector (legit or not) is to stay off the phone!

If someone calls you, tell them to put it in writing and mail it to you or in your case, give them your lawyer's name and tell them to mail it to him.If you tell a collector you will only deal with them in writing it's perfectly legal and they must abide by your decision.

When my ex passed some years ago I got calls for bills he left behind. I was not the executor nor was I responsible for these bills. I found the Very Big Name Banks didn't care who they contacted and threatened. They were looking for anyone they could to threaten to cough up some $.

I had to hire a probate attorney at the time. Amazing what a few letters from your legal representative will do.

Re: I can't believe the phone call I got

terrier3 — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 16:09:04 GMT

When my mom passed away in 2002, she owed Sears and Visa. She had no assets. Our lawyer handled everything with the creditors.

TWO years later I got a call from a collection agency asking if I was her daughter. When I said yes, the woman told me my mom owed Sears and had two years of fines and interest and would I pay it for her? I told the caller that my mom had died penniless, the estate was closed and no, I wouldn't pay a dime - and BTW - how did you get my number?

She said she went thru the phone book and called everyone with my mom's last name (I went back to my maiden name after a short marriage). She said I would be HONORING MY MOTHER'S MEMORY and PROTECTING HER CREDIT RATING if I paid up - $2,000 original debt - $9000 in fines, penalties and interest.

These people are relentless and shameless.

Re: I can't believe the phone call I got

Elstongunn — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 16:13:22 GMT

On 3/22/2014 terrier3 said:
When my mom passed away in 2002, she owed Sears and Visa. She had no assets. Our lawyer handled everything with the creditors.

TWO years later I got a call from a collection agency asking if I was her daughter. When I said yes, the woman told me my mom owed Sears and had two years of fines and interest and would I pay it for her? I told the caller that my mom had died penniless, the estate was closed and no, I wouldn't pay a dime - and BTW - how did you get my number?

She said she went thru the phone book and called everyone with my mom's last name (I went back to my maiden name after a short marriage). She said I would be HONORING MY MOTHER'S MEMORY and PROTECTING HER CREDIT RATING if I paid up - $2,000 original debt - $9000 in fines, penalties and interest.

These people are relentless and shameless.

Did you tell her that the deceased generally don't care about their credit ratings?

Re: I can't believe the phone call I got

scotttie — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 16:14:01 GMT

On 3/22/2014 terrier3 said:
When my mom passed away in 2002, she owed Sears and Visa. She had no assets. Our lawyer handled everything with the creditors.

TWO years later I got a call from a collection agency asking if I was her daughter. When I said yes, the woman told me my mom owed Sears and had two years of fines and interest and would I pay it for her? I told the caller that my mom had died penniless, the estate was closed and no, I wouldn't pay a dime - and BTW - how did you get my number?

She said she went thru the phone book and called everyone with my mom's last name (I went back to my maiden name after a short marriage). She said I would be HONORING MY MOTHER'S MEMORY and PROTECTING HER CREDIT RATING if I paid up - $2,000 original debt - $9000 in fines, penalties and interest.

These people are relentless and shameless.

How sleezy (and funny if it wasn't so rotten.) Protect her credit rating pfffffft.

I am sure that was painful for you.

my edit

Re: I can't believe the phone call I got

KathyPet — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 16:15:44 GMT

On 3/22/2014 terrier3 said:
When my mom passed away in 2002, she owed Sears and Visa. She had no assets. Our lawyer handled everything with the creditors.

TWO years later I got a call from a collection agency asking if I was her daughter. When I said yes, the woman told me my mom owed Sears and had two years of fines and interest and would I pay it for her? I told the caller that my mom had died penniless, the estate was closed and no, I wouldn't pay a dime - and BTW - how did you get my number?

She said she went thru the phone book and called everyone with my mom's last name (I went back to my maiden name after a short marriage). She said I would be HONORING MY MOTHER'S MEMORY and PROTECTING HER CREDIT RATING if I paid up - $2,000 original debt - $9000 in fines, penalties and interest.

These people are relentless and shameless.

I didn't know that they were giving out VISA cards in heaven,

Re: I can't believe the phone call I got

Kalli — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 16:16:46 GMT

On 3/22/2014 ktlynam said:
On 3/22/2014 terrier3 said:
When my mom passed away in 2002, she owed Sears and Visa. She had no assets. Our lawyer handled everything with the creditors.

TWO years later I got a call from a collection agency asking if I was her daughter. When I said yes, the woman told me my mom owed Sears and had two years of fines and interest and would I pay it for her? I told the caller that my mom had died penniless, the estate was closed and no, I wouldn't pay a dime - and BTW - how did you get my number?

She said she went thru the phone book and called everyone with my mom's last name (I went back to my maiden name after a short marriage). She said I would be HONORING MY MOTHER'S MEMORY and PROTECTING HER CREDIT RATING if I paid up - $2,000 original debt - $9000 in fines, penalties and interest.

These people are relentless and shameless.

Did you tell her that the deceased generally don't care about their credit ratings?

hahah! Great response, ktlynam! Loved it!!

-Kalli

Re: I can't believe the phone call I got

kdgn — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 16:23:14 GMT

A friend's sister died without any assets. About two years after her death my friend started getting calls from a collection agency. She told them her sister had died, no assets, and the person on the phone told her "Well someone needs to pay this bill!" After several such calls, my friend gave the agency her uncle's name a phone number. He was a high powered attorney. She was never called again.

Re: I can't believe the phone call I got

Kalli — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 16:23:30 GMT

Our adult son lost his job when the market collapsed several years ago. As time went on, he accumulated outstanding debts and we started getting those dreaded calls. I looked up and read parts of the Fair Debt Collection Act (?) I think that's what it was called. Anyway, I found that they are not allowed to harass us for debts we do not owe.

The next time they called us, I cited that part of the Fair Debt Collection Act and the guy screamed at me through the phone, "Don't you dare cite the FDCA to me!!" I told him if he didn't stop calling I'd report him. They've never called back.

-Kalli

Re: I can't believe the phone call I got

lovescats — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 16:43:48 GMT

I had a collection agency call me because they were calling people who lived on the same street as the guy they were looking for. The guy lives 2 doors down me. They called me twice in 10 minutes and the second time I reported the call to call trace *57 and they never called again.

Re: I can't believe the phone call I got

Lynneuk — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 17:08:37 GMT

I think I heard on the Suze Orman Show,something about a statute of limitations on debt that expires after seven years.The companies will often make a last ditch effort when they know it is about to expire because if you only pay one minimum payment on anything then the seven years starts all over again.

I would stop them as soon as they start to talk and tell them to stop calling you, then immediately hang up.

Re: I can't believe the phone call I got

RedTop — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 17:11:08 GMT

lovescats,

Less than 2 months ago, I had a very similar experience to what you have posted. I received a call from a local finance company asking me very simple questions about my neighbor. When I asked why they were calling me about him, the caller explained how they receive printouts from various customer bases, and our name was highlighted strictly because of the street address, which was the same as our delinquent neighbor. Essentially they just wanted to verify he was still living at that residence, and I confirmed activity there throughout the day and night. I have always felt a suspicousness about the family, so we don't actually associate with each other. I know their names, and I see things that seem weird to me, but I leave them alone, and they leave me alone.

Re: I can't believe the phone call I got

muttmom — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 17:22:49 GMT

While it may be a scam, someone went to the trouble to find out who your daughter's boyfriend is, and then his cell phone number.

Re: I can't believe the phone call I got

focksie — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 17:27:51 GMT

If I get any unexpected calls from unknown persons or companies, I never divulge ANY information, I do not answer any questions, and I do not ask them how they know this or that about me. I simply ask their name and their company's name, also a supervisor's name. Then I hang up without another word and start researching who they are. If I suspect they are scamming, I will then contact the Attorney General's office or Better Business Bureau or my attorney.

Re: I can't believe the phone call I got

stilltamn8r — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 17:32:49 GMT

On 3/22/2014 RedTop said:
lovescats,

Less than 2 months ago, I had a very similar experience to what you have posted. I received a call from a local finance company asking me very simple questions about my neighbor. When I asked why they were calling me about him, the caller explained how they receive printouts from various customer bases, and our name was highlighted strictly because of the street address, which was the same as our delinquent neighbor. Essentially they just wanted to verify he was still living at that residence, and I confirmed activity there throughout the day and night. I have always felt a suspicousness about the family, so we don't actually associate with each other. I know their names, and I see things that seem weird to me, but I leave them alone, and they leave me alone.

So then, you feel that by divulging information about people you admit you don't even know is "leaving them alone?"

Wonder what they might do in the same vein of "leaving you alone"?